Location

Birmingham, Hastings, Leeds

About The Job

Job summary

The Department for Transport and their agencies employ around 15,000 staff working in locations across the country, and are recruiting for a Lead Technical Architect to join their growing team.

Shape the future of transport with DfT's Digital Services team! Perhaps you are currently a software, data or cloud engineer looking to learn new skills or a technical architect looking to move over to Cloud? Are you a passionate tech-savvy person who thrives on solving complex problems? Do you aspire to use cutting-edge cloud technologies to revolutionise the UK's transport system? Then this is the role for you!

Join our talented, experienced, and cross disciplined architecture team and be at the forefront of DfT's digital transformation . You will develop robust, flexible solutions that support our innovative transport policies, leveraging the latest cloud technologies in Azure and Google Cloud . You will support the business in developing new ways of solving problems and you will have driven and implemented digital, cloud, software or data development in some capacity and are keen to look at technology from a holistic perspective.

We want to hear from proactive people who are eager to grow their skills and advance their careers. You will work with other lead architects in the team, supporting each other to deliver across team's areas of focus, such as Security, Data and Infrastructure using Azure or Google Cloud.

Find out more about what it's like working with us

Job Description

At the heart of digital evolution in DfT, you will join a talented, experienced, cross-disciplined architecture team imagining and shaping the delivery of the next wave of digital and data services. You will support and shape various areas within the business which delivers an innovative transport policy agenda. As DfT is a cloud-only enterprise, you will develop the latest cloud solutions meeting complex digital, identity and data needs.

This role will give you the opportunity to learn and improve your skills every day as you work on new and exciting projects with highly advanced technologies. We provide a supportive and constructive learning environment where your career growth is important.

You will develop robust, flexible solutions that support our innovative transport policies, leveraging the latest cloud technologies in Azure and Google Cloud. Your leadership and experience will support the business in developing new ways of solving business problems.

We want to hear from proactive people who are eager to grow their skills and advance their careers. You will work with other lead architects in the team, supporting each other to deliver across team's areas of focus, such as Security, Data and Infrastructure using Azure or Google Cloud.

Responsibilities

As a Technical Architect you will be:

• Leading the development of secure serverless solutions and build them in cloud environments.

• Identifying ways of more efficient, cost-effective and sustainable ways of managing the cloud and the services hosted within it.

• Working with our engineering and analysis teams to build, maintain, and scale digital solutions using new tools in Google and Azure environments.

• Develop a tooling plan for cloud management and support the engineering team in identifying new opportunities for automation.

In this role we will give you the opportunity to:

• Continuously grow and develop yourself through exposure to training in the latest emerging technologies.

• Work on a range of varied projects developed in a cloud-first environment.

• Have exposure to wider challenges across the transport sector and knowledge of the latest transport data initiatives.

• Access flexible and hybrid working supporting a healthy work-life balance.

• Opportunity to collaborate with multi-disciplined teams and suppliers across the country.

Person specification

Previous experience as a Software Engineer, Data Engineer, or other similar technical role with a strong want to learn and continuously develop new skills and gain qualifications and can evidence this. Or as a Technical Architect, with a desire to move towards being Cloud-focused and at the cutting-edge of advanced cloud technologies.

Experience

• Strong communication and technical skills

• Ability to communicate complex technical information, ideas and concepts to non-technical people effectively

• Excellent problem-solving, analytical and troubleshooting skills

• Experience as a Software Engineer, Data Engineer or other similar technical role OR

• Experience as a Technical Engineer or Cloud Engineer

Additional Information

A minimum of 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace, although requirements to attend other locations for official business, or carry out detached duty in another DfT workplace, will also count towards this level of attendance.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing

• Leadership

Technical Skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Lead Technical Architect - Architect for the whole context (Skill Level: Practitioner)

• Lead Technical Architect - Architecture communication (Skill Level: Expert)

• Lead Technical Architect - Making architectural decisions (Skill Level: Practitioner)

• Lead Technical Architect - Strategy Design(Skill Level: Practitioner)

• Lead Technical Architect - Technical design throughout the lifecycle (Skill Level: Expert)

Benefits

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits. We offer generous annual leave, attractive pension options, flexible working, inclusive working environments and much more to support a healthy work/life balance.

Find out more about what it's like working at the Department for Transport

Government Digital and Data / Government Security Profession Pay Framework

This role is part of the Government Digital and Data profession and utilises an enhanced Capability–Based Pay Framework which provides access to a Digital and Data allowance.

The base pay is £54,857. In addition to this, the role includes a Digital and Data allowance of up to £25,534.

The value of allowance awarded will be based on an assessment of your skills and experience as demonstrated through the selection process.

Here are more details on the pay framework .

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window) , and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

How To Apply

To apply please click on 'Apply at advertiser's site' where you will be required to submit a CV (unlimited word count) and a supporting statement (1000 words max.) to Michael Page (our recruitment partners). You MUST submit an application with a CV and supporting statement as one document and any incomplete applications will be rejected.

When considering applying please look at how your experience relates to the role, and within your CV and supporting statement please provide detailed evidence of the following:

• Architect for the whole context - We want to see where you work has gone beyond your immediate goals or remit and benefitted the wider teams you work with.

• Architecture communication - How have you been able to communicate the complex and technical solutions you have developed across a range of non-technical stakeholders with differing user needs?

• Making architectural decisions - When you have made decisions that define the development and implementation of products, demonstrate how you have considered business needs and security risks.

Michael Page will provide DfT with a list of applications and DfT will complete an internal sift.

Sifting will likely take place week commencing 2nd December 2024.

Interviews will likely take place week commencing 16th December 2024.

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.

The selection process will be designed specifically for the role. As a result, your assessment will include:

• an interview

You will be provided two interview questions 48 hours prior to your interview so you can prepare your answers in advance. This is not a presentation so you will not need to prepare any materials, we just want to give you additional time to reflect on your experience. The rest of the interview questions will not be provided in advance.

You’re encouraged to become familiar with the role profile, as you may be assessed against any of the criteria recorded within.

The Department for Transport alongside other Government Departments recruit using Success Profiles. This means for each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate in order to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

For further information on Success Profiles visit our Careers website .

Reasonable Adjustments

As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we are committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you need a reasonable adjustment so that you can complete your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service via adamhutchings@michaelpage.com as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Document Accessibility

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

This job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website . Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process. If you cannot access the information on our website for any reason, please email DRGComms@dft.gov.uk for assistance.

Further Information

For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit the How We Hire page of our DfT Careers website. You can find detailed information about the recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role.

This post is offered on a Fixed Term Appointment (FTA) basis for 18 months.

Permanent Civil Servants will be appointed on an inward loan and subject to the terms of the agreed inward loan. You must have your home departments approval to return to them at the end of the loan before you apply. Internal candidates will return to their previous post at the end of the loan period, which will need to be agreed with your line manager in advance. If your home department cannot agree to release you on loan, there is the opportunity for you to move across to the department on a fixed term appointment. In this instance the Department for Transport would become your home department and if there is no role available for you at the end of this appointment, you would be subject to the redeployment and redundancy process.

If you're employed by a non-departmental public body (NDPB) by moving jobs this will involve a change of employer and you may break the statutory rules on continuity of employment .

There could be the potential of extension up to 2 years or permanency, subject to the role being available (and for those coming across on loan, your home departments agreement).

Pre-employment Checking

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window) . See our vetting charter (opens in a new window) .

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality Requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals

• nationals of the Republic of Ireland

• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK

• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)

• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)

• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020

• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window) .

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window) .

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window) .

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Adam Hutchings

• Email : adamhutchings@michaelpage.com

Recruitment team

• Email : dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact Government Recruitment Services via email: dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website Here